Voters Blame Trade Agreements for Job Losses

[FreeJoe]

84. Trade is a good thing

It mutually benefits both parties to the trade. Virtually every mainstream economist agrees that interntional trade is a good thing.

That doesn't mean that every trade agreement is good. Many focus as much on corporate and market protection as they do on increasing trade.

That also doesn't mean that everyone benefits from more trade. The nation overall benefits when its people are free to trade with people in other nations. Care must be taken to make sure that those benefits are distributed fairly.

We complain when people ignore overwhelming scientific concensus on issues like evolution and global warming, but then too many of us oppose equally settle issues like the benefit of international trade. We shouldn't be fighting trade. We should be shaping trade agreements to better distribute the gains of trade and help those individuals hurt by it.

I know this isn't a popular opinion here, but it is what it is. My nomex is on.